Fighting for Nottinghamshire's green spaces

Nottinghamshire celebrates World Forest Day – March 2011

Across England on Sunday (20 March) families, campaigning groups and individuals were enjoying the spring sunshine in their local woods and forests and marking World Forest Day, which this year had special significance – the recent U turn of the government on its plans to privatise the Forestry Commission.

In Nottinghamshire the Save Sherwood Forest group organised a short ramble at Sherwood Pines, led by Paddy Tipping, national vice-president of the Ramblers association. A remarkable 70 people (and a number of dogs!), many dressed as Robin Hood, enjoyed the ramble, as a demonstration of how much local people treasure their publicly owned forests.

Paddy Tipping welcomed the walkers and emphasised the importance of the ramble and similar events across England.

Paddy commented, “Despite the U turn the government’s future plans need watching very carefully, whilst the 25% cut to the Forestry Commission funding means job cuts and the loss of many skilled forestry rangers, there is a question mark over how the Forestry Commission can maintain the forests to the high standard we all expect.”

The ramble concluded with a big cheer for Sherwood Forest and an emphatic message to government about the future of our forests – no privatisation and adequate funding!